Word Skills Lesson 33
1. ADMONITORY (ADJ)
My mother’s admonitory look motivated
me to change my behavior before I faced
unpleasant consequences.
Ad (to) monit (warn) ory (pertaining to)
Definition: giving or conveying a warning or
reprimand
Synonyms: warning, reprimanding,
threatening
Antonyms: urging, encouraging, fostering
2. APOGEE (N)
Winning the Presidency is definitely the
apogee of Obama’s political career.
Apo (away): geo (earth)
Definition: the highest point in the
development of something
Synonyms: climax, apex, zenith,
culmination
Antonyms: base, depth, bottom, abyss
3. CACOPHANOUS (ADJ)
The cacophonous birds in the
chimney annoyed me.
caco (bad) phon (sound) ous (full of)
Definition: having a harsh or
unpleasant sound
Synonyms: jarring, grating, irritating
Antonyms: pleasant, euphonious,
soothing
4. DESULTORY (ADJ)
I expected a simple answer to my question,
but the professor’s desultory response
left me very confused.
de (down) sult (jump) ory (pertaining to)
Definition: moving or jumping from one
thing to another; lacking a plan
Synonyms: disconnected, rambling,
unfocused
Antonyms: firm, methodical, coherent
5. DISCORDANT (ADJ)
Rather than trying to resolve their
differences, the committee members quickly
became defensive and discordant.
dis (bad) cord (heart) ant (characterized by)
Definition: characterized by quarrel and
conflict; lack of harmony
Synonyms: conflict, cacophonous,
disagreeable
Antonyms: agreeable, harmonious,
cooperative
6. EGALITARIAN: ADJ
Although the Constitution declares that “All
men are created equal,” is it realistic to
think that our society is truly egalitarian?
Aequalis (equal); ian (related to)
Definition: Of or relating to the principle that
all people are equal and deserve equal
rights and opportunities
Synonym: classless, democratic
7. EUPHORIA: N
The euphoria of winning the conference
championship vanished quickly when we
lost the first game in the state playoffs.
Eu (good) phor (bear) ia (state, condition)
Definition: a feeling or state of intense
excitement and happiness or well being
Synonyms: rapture, ecstasy, joy
Antonyms: despair, unhappiness, sorrow
8. GREGARIOUS: ADJ
The politician’s youthful looks and
gregarious personality makes him very
popular with the voters.
greg (gather,flock) ous (full of)
Definition: fond of company; seeking and
enjoying the company of others
Synonyms: sociable, outgoing, extroverted
Antonyms: unsociable, unfriendly,
inhospitable
9. INCONSEQUENTIAL: ADJ
They talked about inconsequential
things to avoid discussing the seriousness
of the situation.
in (not) con (together,with) sequ (follow) al
(related to)
Definition: not important or significant;
without result or effect
Synonyms: petty, trivial, insignificant
Antonyms: important, significant,
paramount
10. INSCRUTABLE: ADJ
I thought I could assemble the
entertainment center quickly, but the
inscrutable directions made that task
impossible.
in (not) scrutari (to search) able (able)
Definition: impossible to understand or
interpret
Synonyms: mysterious, impenetrable,
vague
Antonyms: clear, plain, obvious
11. LONGEVITY: N
The longevity of women is one
reason why there are more elderly
women than men.
longus (long) ev (time, age) ity (state
of)
Definition: duration of long life
12. MORIBUND: adj
My mother’s houseplants look green
and healthy, but mine look brown and
moribund.
moribundus (die)
Definition: at the point of death; lack
vitality or vigor
Synonyms: lifeless, fading, listless
Antonyms: vibrant, energetic,
animated
13. NECROMANCY: N
He claims that his predictions would
be fulfilled because he had the gift of
necromancy.
necro(death) mancy (divination)
Definition: the practice of
communicating with the spirits of the
dead in order to predict the future.
Synonyms: witchcraft, sorcery, black
magic
14. PANEGYRIC: N
The governor delivered a panegyric at a
ceremony to name the school after a local
hero.
pan (all, entire) agora (assembly)
Definition: a public speech or published
text in praise of someone or something
Synonyms: commendation, eulogy, tribute
Antonyms: censure, blame, disdain
15. PLATITUDE: N
Tired of the platitudes associated with
graduation, the valedictorian composed an
original speech.
plat (flat) tude (state)
Definition: a remark or statement,
especially one with moral content, that has
been used too often to be interesting or
thoughtful; the quality of being dull or
ordinary
Synonyms: cliché, trite
Antonyms: original, creative
16. PRIMA DONNA: N
The prima donna became hysterical
when the director did not choose her
for the leading role.
prim (first) donna (lady)
Definition: the main female singer in
an opera; a very temperamental
person with an inflated view of self
Synonyms: egoist
17. QUINTESSENTIAL: adj
We regarded her as the quintessential
scholar: intelligent, articulate, and
dedicated.
quint (five) essentia (essence) al (related
to): The fifth element
Definition: representing the perfect or
typical example of a quality or class
Synonyms: consummate, ideal, perfect
Antonyms: mediocre, imperfect, defective
18. RISIBLE: ADJ
The student’s risible impersonation
of Shakespeare annoyed the teacher
but entertained his classmates.
Ris (laugh) ible (able)
Definition: capable of laughing; apt to
incite laughing
Synonyms: ludicrous, humorous,
amusing
Antonyms: serious, sober, somber
19. SUBJUGATE: V
The dictator’s plan to subjugate the
neighboring countries prompted UN
intervention.
Sub (under) jugum (yoke, collar) ate
(make, cause)
Definition: to bring under domination or
control
Synonyms: conquer, dominate, oppress
Antonyms: support, aid, liberate
20. UNDULATE: V
The hopeful doctors watched as the
line on the cardiac monitor began to
undulate.
Und (wave) ate (make, cause
Definition: to cause to move in a
smooth, wavelike motion
Synonyms: wave, ripple, sawy